When Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae meets with US President Donald Trump in Washington on March 19, the two leaders are expected to discuss the Middle East situation.

On March 13, Takaichi was asked in a parliamentary session in Tokyo about sending the Self-Defense Forces to the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively blockaded.

At the time, she responded that nothing has been decided.

The following day, Trump wrote on social media that he hopes countries including Japan will join the United States in sending warships to the Strait of Hormuz to keep it open and safe.

There is a possibility that Trump might ask Takaichi directly for cooperation on the matter when they meet this week.

Some within the Japanese government and ruling parties point to the need to first determine Trump's true intentions.

A senior member of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party said Takaichi is the only person who can grasp what Trump intends and that will be a key point of the upcoming Japan-US summit.

In Trump's deployment request, he specifically mentioned not just Japan but also China and South Korea among the other countries.

A Japanese government official noted that no concrete discussions are taking place among the countries named, so it will be necessary to ask the United States what specifically it has in mind.

A Defense Ministry official said Japan's role in a combat region would be limited to rear-area support such as refueling under the country's right of collective self-defense.

Among other issues, Takaichi and Trump are also expected to agree to cooperate bilaterally on rare earth development.

Rare earths are essential minerals for high-tech industries and are used in products such as semiconductors and electric vehicle motors.

With China controlling most of the global production, securing rare earths has become an urgent issue for both Japan and the United States.

Mud rich in rare earths has been found on the seabed near Minamitorishima island, Japan's easternmost territory in the Pacific Ocean, nearly 2,000 kilometers southeast of central Tokyo.

The mud has been confirmed to contain elements such as dysprosium, which is used in the manufacturing of high-performance magnets.

In February, Japan succeeded in conducting test drilling there.

Meanwhile, Takaichi gave an address at the graduation ceremony of the National Defense Academy on March 14.

S/ Takaichi Sanae, Japanese Prime Minister / To resolutely protect our nation's territory, territorial waters, airspace, and the lives and property of all our citizens, we will consider all options, including reviewing the structure of the Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces, and work toward a fundamental strengthening of our defense capabilities.

The Japanese leader explained that the current security environment surrounding Japan is the most severe and complex since the end of World War II.

She urged the graduates to cultivate flexible thinking that is not bound by past conventions and strive for self-improvement.

This academic year, 366 students graduated from the academy, with 34 of them declining their commission as SDF members, choosing instead to work in the private sector or other fields.